They reasoned that it is generally difficult to avoid this, for people in the desert often keep their vessels exposed and uncovered, and these predatory animals come to them and drink from them. If we were to oblige people to pour out the water and wash the vessel afterward, this would cause hardship.

The hadiths concerning this matter contain a degree of apparent contradiction: some indicate impurity, while others indicate purity.

Among the reports indicating purity is the hadith of the two qullahs, narrated by Ibn Umar, may Allah be pleased with them: the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, was asked about water and the predatory animals that come to drink from it. He said: “When water reaches two qullahs, it does not become impure.” (1) He did not say that these animals are pure; rather, he made the ruling dependent upon the water itself: if it reaches two qullahs, it does not become impure. This indicates that the coming of these predatory animals to the water renders it impure, were it not for the water having reached two qullahs.

There are other hadiths on this matter which, although weak, have several chains of transmission indicating that the leftovers of animals are pure. The Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, was asked about this and said: “They have what they carry in their bellies, while what remains for us is pure and purifying.” (2) This indicates purity.

The two hadiths may be reconciled by saying: if the water is plentiful and does not